Language
Country/Area
No result found
Did you know that the growth process of ocean-farmed salmon is so strange!
Salmon farming is a complex process carried out in a controlled environment that involves both commercial interests and the needs of recreational fishermen. Salmon (especially Atlantic salmon) occupies a pivotal position in the global marine aquaculture industry, and there are many unknown scientific principles and technological innovations behind this.
The value of farmed salmon was reported to be $10.7 billion in 2007, having increased more than tenfold between 1982 and 2007.
Salmon farming methods date back to the late 18th century, when experiments were mainly conducted in Europe. The first methods of raising salmon fry were introduced to North America in the 19th century, and these techniques have been continuously improved over time. By the late 1950s, aquaculture procedures had gradually expanded to countries such as the United States, Canada, and Japan, and in the late 1960s the concepts of floating sea cages and net cages were introduced.
Today, most salmon are farmed in cages at sea, a method known as mariculture that makes the process more efficient.
During this process, salmon are first hatched in freshwater tanks, usually requiring 12 to 18 months of land-based culture before being transferred to the ocean for growth, which increases their adaptability to the natural environment in which they grow. . Under suitable water temperature conditions, the growth rate of salmon has been qualitatively improved.
Norway is a global leader in salmon farming, with moderate water temperatures along its coastline and numerous sheltered sea areas, all of which provide unique natural conditions for salmon farming. According to statistics, Norway accounts for 33% of global salmon farming production, while Chile follows closely behind with 31%.
Modern salmon farming technology is usually controlled by large agricultural enterprises, forming a highly concentrated industrial chain, with a few companies responsible for nearly half of the world's salmon supply.
With the advancement of technology, commercial hatcheries have gradually turned to recirculating aquaculture systems, which not only effectively control the water source, but also can economically heat and cool the water temperature, allowing the growth cycle of salmon to be flexibly adjusted. During this process, nutrition is also a key factor in the healthy growth of salmon. With various research and developments in fish feed, Chinese herbal substitutes have gradually been introduced, which has reduced the demand for wild fish to a certain extent.
However, many environmental issues in salmon farming remain to be fully addressed, particularly those related to disease and parasites. For example, diseases such as abscessed kidney disease and infectious salmon anemia have caused considerable economic losses in the aquaculture process and posed a threat to wild fish.
Every year, monitoring and cleaning of farmed salmon is critical to preventing outbreaks and maintaining clean water.
In addition to disease, high-density breeding environments and feeding methods also cause pollution problems. Many studies have shown that farmed salmon may accumulate harmful substances such as heavy metals in their meat, which are not common in wild fish. Even so, there are different opinions within the industry, making the safety of farmed salmon a topic of concern for many consumers.
With more emphasis on sustainability issues, dietary guidelines in Canada and the United States are being updated to encourage people to eat more fish to improve their health. In addition, many environmental organizations have called for stricter monitoring and evaluation of the ecological challenges faced by salmon migration in order to maintain ecological balance.
Have you ever thought about whether the future of salmon depends solely on aquaculture, or whether more attention should be paid to the protection of their habitats and the recovery of wild populations?
